Eve of Marriage The Withdrawal of a Groom

1

During the discussion of engagement details with my fiancé Zachary, his female secretary Gabrielle accidentally spilled a cup of scalding coffee on me. Zachary instinctively grabbed Gabrielle’s hand, expressing concern, “Does it hurt?” At that moment, I knew that Zachary and I would not have a future. Later, Zachary successfully married Gabrielle as he wished. However, after only three years, he grew tired of her.

2

On the day before the wedding, my prospective groom eloped with his lover. I sent him 99 messages, but he only replied with a simple “I’m sorry.” Later, I found him on the rooftop terrace, and his first instinct was to pull Gabrielle behind him, protecting her. He looked at me with hostility, raised his head, and resolutely said, “You can hit or scold me as much as you want, but please don’t harm Gabrielle.” There was no guilt or lingering affection for our past relationship. At that moment, I was the villain who had destroyed his happiness.

Despite everyone advising Zachary to give up on Gabrielle, he refused. Against the wishes of everyone, he insisted on marrying Gabrielle. I granted him his wish and let him go. I thought he would cherish Gabrielle, whom he had obtained against all odds, like a precious treasure. However, just three years later, Zachary’s attitude changed.

In a narrow and dimly lit corridor, he rudely pulled Gabrielle away from him, suppressing his anger, and said, “Can you please stop crying? It’s really annoying!” Our wedding, after his absurd elopement, was naturally canceled. I left the city and, three years later, returned after establishing a high-end clothing store, my third in the country. Before the grand opening, I had my secretary prepare invitations. Due to the pre-opening busyness, I accidentally forgot to remove Zachary from the list of acquaintances.

This was an unintentional oversight, as I had long considered him a stranger after three years. However, my friend Morgan thought otherwise. Normally outspoken, Morgan suddenly became like a shy young girl when she saw the unmailed invitation. She hesitantly said, “Autumn, you don’t still have feelings for him, do you?” At that moment, I was working on a gown for a client, and her comment nearly caused me to cut the wrong line.

Feeling a surge of discomfort, I frowned and replied, “Would you still think about a piece of crap?” Morgan was initially surprised but burst into laughter, saying, “Who asked you to love him like that back then? I always thought you’d never forget him.” I sighed and smiled wryly, correcting the pattern. To avoid trouble, I withdrew Zachary’s invitation before sending them out. Perhaps I no longer cared, but others tend to speculate.

Of course, I couldn’t blame Morgan for thinking that way. After all, we were once deeply in love.

3

Speaking of it, Zachary and I were considered childhood sweethearts. Due to the good relationship between our parents, we often gathered for meals during holidays, and I have known Zachary since the time we wore open-crotch pants. Back then, he was quiet and gentle like a little girl, holding a blond doll in his hands.

My mom used to say I was like a mischievous monkey, always restless. Even though I had toys in my hands, I would insist on grabbing Zachary’s doll. Zachary was frail and never my match. While I could easily get other toys by asking, he wouldn’t let go of the doll, no matter how I tried to snatch it. We practically grew up fighting each other.

His mom always thought I was domineering. When we played house as kids, I insisted on being Zachary’s bride. He would frown, looking unwilling, but he had to let me drag him over, and his mom would laugh heartily, saying, “Autumn, our Zachary dares not marry you.” She repeated this story for many years. By the time we were teenagers, I had become immune to it. She would say, “Whoever marries Autumn in the future will surely be managed by her obediently.”

I would laugh it off, not feeling embarrassed at all. It was Zachary who remained silent. It wasn’t until after the meal that Zachary somberly said to me, “Autumn, are you sure you’re a girl?” I remember it was the first Mid-Autumn Festival after the college entrance exam. After dinner, our parents dispersed, and Zachary and I climbed to the rooftop terrace to gaze at the moon.

He stared at the round moon, seemingly burdened with thoughts. As if hesitating for a long time, he finally asked, “Autumn, are you in love?” At that time, I did have a crush on someone in college, and whenever I thought about that person, I became talkative. I didn’t notice the increasingly gloomy expression on Zachary’s face as I rambled on.

Suddenly, Zachary leaned in, and I instinctively shut my mouth. He was so close, his tall figure almost touching mine. The warmth of his breath made my heart pound for a moment. I stammered, “What are you doing?” Before I could finish speaking, his lips descended. Perhaps due to inexperience, the kiss was light, lips brushing against each other, and it ended after a moment.

I stared at him, blushing, and his cheeks were also flushed. When my fingers touched his face, he grabbed my hand. He said, “Autumn, you can only marry me in the future.” Ironically, the place where Zachary and I sealed our fate with a kiss became the place where we ultimately parted ways.

4

On the day of the store opening, Zachary, uninvited, showed up with his “true love” — Gabrielle. The once submissive girl seemed like a different person, standing tall with her straightened long hair turned into large waves, swaying gracefully as she walked.

Seeing her for the first time, I felt that she had been living a comfortable life. It seemed that Zachary had treated her well over the past three years. However, when she approached me, arm in arm with Zachary, he casually removed her arm from his and said without hesitation, “You wait over there.”

I could clearly see Gabrielle’s face turn pale, and a slight blush appeared on her eyes. All her confidence seemed to dissipate in an instant. She lowered her eyelashes, struggling to maintain a smile, and said, “Can’t I talk to Sister Autumn?” Zachary frowned, but out of respect for me, he remained silent.

Gabrielle, gaining some courage, greeted me before Zachary. A smile returned to her face as she said, “It’s been three years, and Sister Autumn looks even more beautiful than before.”

Perhaps I had become smoother than before, still smiling despite my disdain. I replied, “That compliment suits you better.” She wasn’t modest either, flipping her hair and saying, “Unfortunately, Sister Autumn hasn’t seen me in a wedding dress.”

I knew what she meant, but with the passage of time, her words had lost their impact on me. Now, it just sounded a bit amusing. I said, “Next time you get married, wearing my gown will make you even more beautiful.”

Gabrielle’s face suddenly turned pale. At that time, I didn’t know the extent of her relationship with Zachary and hadn’t realized that I had touched a nerve. She was on the verge of confronting me when Zachary, unable to bear it, interrupted her.

His expression was grim, “Enough! Gabrielle, I need to talk to Autumn. Go over there and wait for me.” Gabrielle pursed her lips, looking like she was on the verge of tears, staring at him. Seeing Zachary’s worsening expression, she had to leave.

As if harboring deep-seated resentment towards me, she gave me a fierce glare before leaving. I was both annoyed and amused, and my expression towards Zachary wasn’t much better.

Zachary asked me, “Are you leaving again this time?”

Three years ago, I called off the wedding on the spot and the next day bought a ticket to fly south to settle down. Perhaps there were reasons when I left, but now that I’m back, there is no connection whatsoever with him. As for whether I’ll leave again, that’s none of his business.

I said, “I don’t recall inviting you.”

He remained silent, looking down at me with a dazed expression. Irritated, I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm. I was startled, almost instinctively pushing him away.

He looked genuinely hurt. Seeing my displeased expression, he explained, “I’m sorry. I know you dislike her. I shouldn’t have brought her here.”

I indeed didn’t like Gabrielle, but what I disliked more was him. Perhaps he, like Morgan, thought I hadn’t forgotten him. I didn’t want to explain anything to him. It wasn’t necessary. I just smiled and said, “No need to apologize. I welcome you and your wife to come to my store in the future.”

After saying that, I turned and left. Zachary, from behind, asked in a neither light nor heavy tone, “Autumn, do you still hate me?”

Pretending not to hear, I walked towards Morgan, who was waving at me. Morgan, with a gossipy look, asked quietly when I got close, “What did you talk about?”

I shook my head, not wanting to discuss it. Morgan said, “Gabrielle is crying in the hallway.”

I shrugged, wearing an expression that conveyed it had nothing to do with me, and Morgan didn’t pry further. She pulled me to the self-service area, filled a plate with desserts, and when we returned, we heard the quarrel in the hallway.

Gabrielle’s eyes were still red, and Zachary looked impatient. His tone was cold as he said, “Don’t bother me. Go home first.”

A small crowd had gathered around them. Despite wanting to maintain a facade of composure, Gabrielle, clinging to Zachary’s arm, pretended to smile and said, “I want to go home with you.”

Zachary gave her no face. With a little force, he pushed her away. Wearing high heels, Gabrielle stumbled and nearly fell, luckily catching herself against the wall.

Tears welled up in her eyes instantly. Perhaps out of guilt or not wanting to be laughed at, Zachary’s tone finally softened a bit, but he still didn’t extend a hand to help her. Impatience still lingered in his voice as he said, “Gabrielle, go home. Don’t provoke me.”

Gabrielle remained silent, her tear-filled eyes met with Zachary’s impatient gaze. She had to leave the banquet.

Morgan shrugged, muttering, “Deserved it.”

I didn’t respond. While I didn’t sympathize with Gabrielle, I still wanted to call Zachary a “jerk.” He turned Gabrielle’s triumphant demeanor into a joke, and with just a few words, he brought her back to reality.

Once, he fell in love with her for her lovable personality. Now, for the same reason, he started to resent her. Regardless of how Gabrielle tried to portray herself, she was still the timid Gabrielle from before.

5

The first time I met Gabrielle was in Zachary’s office. At that time, Gabrielle was still Zachary’s secretary, a newly hired employee who had graduated from college just a year ago. She always had a cautious and delicate demeanor in her work.

Back then, Zachary was quite intolerant of her. He disliked her voice, which he compared to the buzzing of a mosquito. He didn’t like the way she clumsily poured coffee, and he especially didn’t like entrusting tasks to her that she couldn’t complete to his standards. He didn’t hesitate to call her a fool in front of me.

The day I went to see him, Zachary was scolding her. He angrily slammed a contract onto the floor and said with displeasure, “You can’t even handle such a simple task. What else can you do?”

When I entered, Gabrielle was bending down to pick up the scattered documents on the floor. She dared not leave with the documents in her arms, standing there enduring his reprimand. Head bowed, trembling all over, she looked like a schoolgirl who had done something wrong.

I felt sorry for her at that moment. Despite the door being open, I gently knocked on the office door. Zachary stopped when he saw me, perhaps realizing he needed to preserve some dignity in front of others. He told Gabrielle, “You can leave for now. Make sure to fix these documents tonight.”

Gabrielle left with her head down. Through the glass wall, I saw her wiping away tears as she walked.

Zachary was in a bad mood. When I asked why he was so angry, he explained that he was supposed to sign a contract that day and only discovered a significant loophole just before signing. Talking about it made him furious again. “If I had signed this contract, not only would the profits be compromised, but I might have had to pay the other party.”

He complained, “I don’t know how we ended up hiring such a fool.”

I jokingly suggested, “If you’re not satisfied, why not dismiss her?”

He shook his head, supporting his forehead with his hand. “We urgently need personnel now. We’ll talk about it later.”

7

I waited for more than a year for the next encounter, and when I saw them again, they were no longer arguing.

I once asked Zachary why he no longer complained about his clumsy secretary. It happened on my birthday. Zachary had been traveling for work for a long time, and he hurriedly rushed back on the day of my birthday.

He said he had already bought my birthday gift a long time ago but stored it in the office since it was early. To make me happy, he had it brought to me directly from the office. Gabrielle was the one who brought the gift.

I remember it was a snowy day, and Gabrielle arrived very late due to the snow. Our meals were already finished, but I wasn’t in a hurry. Birthdays are meant to be joyful, and I didn’t mind waiting a bit longer. However, Zachary seemed very anxious. He kept checking his wristwatch, making me nervous too. I asked if he had sent Gabrielle to the wrong address.

Frowning, he looked at the heavy snow outside and shook his head, saying, “I shouldn’t have let her come.”

I teased, “Are you talking about your clumsy secretary?”

My intention was to joke, but Zachary suddenly turned to look at me. I couldn’t understand the emotions in his eyes — something like resentment, self-blame, but eventually, it turned into a faint smile on his lips.

He gazed at Gabrielle in the snowy landscape outside and mumbled, “She is quite clumsy.”

Gabrielle was bundled up like a snowman. Zachary took what she was carrying, and although his expression was serious, his tone was gentle. He said, “Why did it take you so long?”

Gabrielle dared not look at his face. Bowing her head, looking at her own toes, hands tightly clasped, she softly said, “I slipped on the way, I’m sorry.”

Zachary stood in silence for a while before asking, “Where did you fall?”

She timidly lifted her eyelashes, but Zachary suddenly turned to me and said, “Autumn, can you check if her injury is severe?”

It was quite severe. Zachary probably saw her injured leg from the window, but even so, I was surprised that he would make such a request to me.

Gabrielle, feeling embarrassed, waved her hand, saying, “No need, I’m fine.”

Zachary’s expression suddenly turned cold as he said to her, “What are you trying to prove?”

Gabrielle was frightened, and even I was stunned. That day, I had the driver take Gabrielle to the hospital. After she left, I noticed that Zachary seemed a bit restless.

However, I refused to believe that he was worried about Gabrielle. Despite the facts.

Later, pretending to be casual, I asked Zachary, “You seem quite satisfied with your secretary now.”

He chuckled at my remark and then turned to look at me, saying with a half-smile, “Autumn, you seem jealous.”

Naturally, I didn’t say anything more. I shrugged and didn’t respond to his words. But he seemed lost in thought, not turning the page of the document in his hand for a long time.

8

Business at the new store was booming, and Zachary came to my shop to customize a suit. Unfortunately, I wasn’t there when he visited. Somehow, he got hold of my phone number and made a special call, “Autumn, can you make this suit for me?”

I chuckled over the phone, “My fees aren’t cheap, you know.”

He remained silent for a while and finally said, “I’m willing to pay whatever it takes.”

I laughed and hung up. Not long after, he sent someone over with a check. My secretary found it quite intriguing, commenting that people still use checks for payments these days. She handed me the check, and as I looked at the signature and the numerous zeros after the numbers, I realized he was indeed spending a hefty sum.

Following the principle of not turning down money, I personally took on him as a client. We set a date to measure for the suit, and before parting, I asked for the location of the appointment.

He hesitated for a moment and eventually gave an address. Surprisingly, it was the place where we had originally planned to have our wedding. Perhaps fearing I would read too much into it, he cautiously asked, “Is it okay?”

I nonchalantly replied, “Of course.”

A few days later, he called again, this time with an undertone of suppressed anger, asking, “Autumn, you promised me you would make the clothes.”

I responded, “Making it is my job, but measuring the size doesn’t have to be done by me.”

I could hear his heavy breathing through the phone, but he didn’t say anything. With a loud click, he abruptly hung up.

However, after a short while, he called again, his tone heavy with a lingering anger, “Autumn, I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?”

There was nothing to forgive. I didn’t hate him, and I no longer loved him. He had hurt me, and I retaliated on the spot. So, facing him, I was quite composed. I even kindly reminded him, “Zachary, I’m happy if you come to give me business, but to avoid trouble, I hope you can talk it out with your wife. Don’t cause me trouble because of you. If you can’t guarantee this, then I won’t take on this business.”

I hung up the phone, thought for a moment, and then took out the check he had sent from the safe. I asked my secretary to deliver it to Zachary’s house. I figured he wouldn’t have time to make me uncomfortable in the next few days. Gabrielle’s tears should keep him occupied for a while.

9

In my impression, Gabrielle loved to cry. Whenever Zachary scolded her, she cried. When the contract wasn’t signed, she cried. Even when a cup of coffee spilled on me, it was still her crying. Zachary said she was timid, but fundamentally, she wasn’t a bad person. Naturally, he didn’t see her as bad — after all, the coffee didn’t spill on her.

One day, Zachary arranged a meeting with me to discuss engagement matters. However, he got held up, so he asked me to wait for him in his office. Gabrielle received me, saying Zachary was out meeting clients and advised me not to worry. She handed me a magazine, and after flipping a few pages, I realized she was still standing there.

When I looked up, I caught her staring at me absentmindedly. I asked her what was wrong, and she shook her head, smiling shyly, saying, “Miss Autumn, you’re really beautiful.”

I’d heard that line too many times to take it seriously. However, she continued, saying, “No wonder Zachary likes you so much.”

I hadn’t expected her to be so talkative. Closing the magazine, I asked, “What did he tell you?”

After some thought, she said, “Zachary said he was afraid you’d reject him when he confessed to you. He mentioned that you’re too beautiful, confident, and there are too many people who like you. You might not care about his confession.”

I didn’t know what kind of relationship it was to discuss such things, but I felt uncomfortable hearing it from her. It was like someone very close to you never confides in you but instead shares their innermost thoughts with someone else. And you learn those things through others.

Gabrielle continued, “I really wish I could become a person like Miss Autumn, confident and generous.”

I didn’t respond, just smiled at her. After waiting for about half an hour, Zachary rushed back. The tea next to me had turned cold, and he, loosening his tie, told Gabrielle to get some water.

I suggested changing it to coffee, and Zachary teased, “Aren’t you afraid of not sleeping tonight?”

Gabrielle had already brought the tea, but whether it was concern for me or to avoid trouble with Gabrielle, he said, “Her coffee has always been bad. Let’s just have water.”

At that moment, I had an inexplicable stubbornness and refused to comply with his wishes. He glanced at Gabrielle and eventually instructed, “Don’t do it yourself. Order a cup and have it sent up from downstairs.”

When Gabrielle knocked on the door with the coffee, I was discussing the engagement date with Zachary. I mentioned, “I don’t like getting engaged in winter.”

As Gabrielle handed me the coffee, it suddenly shook. Before I could take it, her hand loosened, and the coffee spilled on my legs. It was summer, and I was wearing a thin dress. The scalding liquid seeped through the fabric onto my skin, and for a moment, I didn’t feel the pain.

But Gabrielle, as the cup hit the ground, screamed. I saw Zachary, who was standing nearby, rushing over. He grabbed Gabrielle’s hand, anxiously asking, “Did it burn you?”

She probably got some hot coffee on her too, but biting her lip, half lowering her head, she seemed to cry without crying, whispering, “I’m fine.”

As soon as she finished speaking, tears rolled down from the corners of her eyes.

For some reason, at that moment, I felt like a bystander, sitting there watching a play. I didn’t know when, but suddenly, I came back to my senses, and my heart hurt like a needle prick.

At that time, Zachary also regained his composure. In a hurry, he released Gabrielle’s hand, rushed to my side, perhaps concerned about the leg injury, and seemed unsure how to proceed.

I don’t know why, but I smiled, and he asked if it hurt. I stood up casually from the sofa, even though he was much taller than me. Yet, at that moment, I looked down at him with a condescending posture.

I said, “Let’s discuss the engagement another day.”

I walked out of his office, and after a while, Zachary came out to chase after me. However, by then, I had already left in my car.

That day, I went to the hospital alone. My legs were covered in a row of blisters, and when the nurse applied medicine, I felt the piercing pain for the first time.

That night, Zachary stood outside my door all night. I didn’t open the door, and he left only in the morning.

Because of this, he fell seriously ill.

A few days later, the news reached my parents’ ears. When I told them I didn’t want to get engaged, my mother didn’t take my words seriously. She smiled and said, “Weren’t you eager to marry him quickly back then? Now you’re not in a hurry.”

I remained silent, and only then did she realize that I might not be joking. Later, my mother must have talked to Zachary, or maybe Zachary went to see her. Anyway, when she mentioned Zachary in front of me again, her tone changed.

She said, “I met that girl, and Zachary won’t like her.”

After saying that, my mother teased me, “My confident daughter, unexpectedly feeling jealous because of such an ordinary girl. That’s unlike you.”

Despite saying this, when she left my villa, my mother added, “Zachary has promised me. He will dismiss that girl.”

Regardless of its truth, my mother cleared the obstacle for me, although I knew this was just a temporary solution.

I always knew that I wasn’t tied to Zachary, but seeing him thin and weak after his illness, I couldn’t help but soften.

At that time, he came to my workplace to find me. Surrounded by colleagues with name tags, he stood a few steps away from me, looking at me.

I took him to the coffee shop downstairs. It wasn’t the best place, and he probably remembered what happened that day. He held a cup of coffee in his hand, staring at me for a long time without saying a word.

I asked him what he wanted, and only then did he raise his head. Like making a pledge, he said, “I’ve dismissed her.”

That wasn’t what I truly cared about. I looked into his eyes and asked, “Zachary, do you like her?”

He seemed to smile and didn’t immediately answer my question. After a while, he said softly, “I just felt sorry for her.”

He didn’t directly answer my question. At that moment, I knew that Zachary and I would never have a future together.

10

Now, I can’t clearly articulate what I felt about Zachary during that time — disliking him, finding him repulsive, yet still seeming to love him. I’m unsure whether Gabrielle was active or passive in this relationship, but it doesn’t seem too important. I told Morgan that I wanted to break up with Zachary.

Morgan, with an unbelieving expression, said, “You’ve had over a decade of a relationship with him, and you want to break up just because of Gabrielle. Are you really willing?”

I wasn’t willing, but I didn’t want to punish myself with someone else’s mistakes. I don’t know why I found myself in this detestable love triangle. At that moment, I felt like I might hate Zachary, as he dragged me into this unpleasant situation.

Contrary to that, I didn’t have strong feelings about Gabrielle. Though I didn’t like her, I couldn’t say I hated her. However, Morgan mentioned that she disliked Gabrielle the first time she saw her. I felt this might be related to our relationship because when I cursed Zachary for being a scumbag, Gabrielle was inevitably part of the story.

One day, Morgan and I went shopping at the mall. While browsing the jewelry store on the ground floor, we saw Gabrielle in the corner, buying a watch.

Morgan had seen her photo on Zachary’s company website and recognized her immediately. Gabrielle was leaning on the counter, hands clasped together to block the light. She softly spoke to the salesperson, “I would like to see this one. Could you please take it out for me?”

The brand of the watch was expensive, suitable for middle-aged people with financial stability. I remembered my father had one in his drawer. I had also bought one for Zachary, but when I presented it to him, he smiled and shook his head.

He said, “Autumn, compared to this one, I prefer the one my grandfather left me.” He never took off that antique watch on his wrist. I thought he genuinely liked the watch his grandfather gave him, so my gift was declined without hesitation.

I naturally didn’t care about his grandfather’s jealousy. I shrugged and put the watch back into the box. He jokingly said, “Are you taking back the gift?” I replied, “Since you don’t like it, might as well return it and save my father some money.”

At that time, I had just started working and didn’t want to enter my father’s company. Instead, I went to another company to learn about design, and my meager salary couldn’t cover the cost of such a watch, which wasn’t something an average office worker could easily afford, at least not Gabrielle at that time.

Gabrielle saw the price on the tag and didn’t even take the watch off the pillow. She let the salesperson put it back. She went to another counter and picked a much cheaper watch. However, even though it was inexpensive, she still hesitated.

Morgan, watching from behind, was getting anxious. She teased, “What’s the matter? Did Zachary not pay you enough severance pay when he dismissed you? Can’t even afford a watch?”

Gabrielle was startled, turned around, saw me, and realized that Morgan was teasing her. She softly explained to me, “I have no relationship with Zachary, Miss Autumn. You shouldn’t misunderstand us.”

Morgan wanted to say more, but I stopped her. I told Gabrielle, “I’ll make my own judgment.” Gabrielle pursed her lips, looking at me with a seemingly wronged expression.

I didn’t want to stay there any longer, so I pulled Morgan away. I remember it was that weekend when Zachary returned from a business trip to Shanghai. Instead of going home, he came directly to my company to pick me up.

At that moment, I remembered it was his birthday, and he probably remembered it too but chose to forget. I naturally hadn’t prepared any gifts for him, and he didn’t mind. He took me to a nearby Western restaurant for dinner.

After the dishes arrived, he used his knife and fork to cut the steak on his plate and, very gentlemanly, placed it in front of me. It was in that moment when he reached over that I saw the brand new watch on his wrist — the same one I had seen in Gabrielle’s hands before she decided to buy it. But now, in this moment, it was adorning Zachary’s wrist.

Although it was so cheap, not befitting his status at all, he still chose to wear it. I suddenly found it absurd. I had once given him an expensive watch that he refused even to try. Now, he willingly wore a watch that cost less than two thousand yuan simply because it was a gift from Gabrielle.

I stared at that watch for a long time, long enough for him to sense it. He intentionally or unintentionally withdrew his arm into his sleeve, but that day, wearing a white shirt with buttoned cuffs, there was no way to hide the watch.

He couldn’t resist asking me what was wrong. I said, “You’re not wearing the watch your grandfather left you.” He acted extraordinarily natural, so much so that I couldn’t detect any flaw. Only when his eyes glanced at the dial did a slight upward curve betray him. Perhaps he didn’t even realize that smile.

But precisely because of that, it cut through me like a knife. He said, “I took that watch for maintenance.” I remained silent, but my gaze never wavered. My complexion must have been terrible at that moment. When he looked up and met my eyes, he hesitated for a moment. The irritating smile on his lips disappeared.

He called my name, “Autumn?” I didn’t engage in guessing games with him. I pointed to the watch on his wrist and said lightly, “I’ve seen it before.” He lowered his head, remained silent, and didn’t pause in his movements, even though the steak had been cut several times without being separated.

He still didn’t utter a word. I forcefully slammed the knife and fork into the plate. At that moment, he looked up, still maintaining an indifferent expression. He said, “Autumn, I didn’t buy you a gift, but you can’t stop others from buying me one.”

This was undoubtedly an admission. It meant that before he came to see me, he had already met Gabrielle. He took off the watch he liked and joyfully replaced it with the one Gabrielle gave him.

For a moment, I had no rebuttal to his words. Frustration led me to burst into laughter, muttering to myself, “The world must be insane.” I lifted the plate in front of me and slammed it onto his side of the table.

The heavy porcelain clashed, producing a dull and piercing sound. He looked at me coldly, and his voice was equally chilly, saying, “I’ve already dismissed her!” So, what else did you want? That seemed to be what he wanted to say but didn’t.

I had nothing to say. I stood up suddenly from the chair, and the sound of the chair against the floor attracted the attention of the surroundings. He quickly grabbed my wrist, staring at me intently, saying, “Autumn, don’t hurt her.”

I didn’t know what kind of person I was, but in this matter with Zachary, I never shed a tear, even though I felt heartbroken. Even when he said such hurtful words. We had known each other for over twenty years — from his confession to our planned engagement, eight or nine years in between — and yet, in his heart, I couldn’t compare to Gabrielle, whom he had known for less than two years.

In the end, he had to say such a thing to me. In that moment, I genuinely hated him, wishing I could tear him apart. But I just looked at him, nodded, and even smiled, saying, “Very well, Zachary. You’ll pay the price for your words today.”

I picked up the red wine and splashed it on his face. As I put the wine glass down, I realized my body was trembling.

11

After that incident, I once took the initiative to ask Zachary if he still wanted to be with me or if he wanted to break up. At that time, Zachary was still rational. He remained silent for a while, then lifted his head, looked at me, and slowly shook his head.

He said, “Autumn, I only feel pity for her. She grew up without parents, which shaped her current personality. Unlike you, who grew up in your parents’ pampering, having everything you wanted, everything she has was hard-earned. She’s not like you, capable of handling everything herself; she relies on others a lot. I really like the feeling of being needed, but she is not suitable for me.”

He continued, “Autumn, we are a good match.” Not because of love, just because we are a good match. In one sentence, he negated all our years of relationship. But hearing that sentence, I unexpectedly couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

12

Speaking of pity for Gabrielle, Zachary disappeared the day before our wedding. I called him many times, but he didn’t answer. Finally, he replied on WeChat with a simple “I’m sorry.” Perhaps his heart had been broken long before, and I didn’t feel that sad.

I told Morgan that Zachary might have eloped with Gabrielle. Morgan asked me what to do next, and I said, “Let’s proceed with the original plan.” On the eve of the wedding, he finally answered my call.

I found him on the rooftop terrace. Of course, Gabrielle was with him. The first thing he did was to pull Gabrielle behind him, protecting her. He looked at me with hostility, raised his head, and solemnly said, “You can hit me or scold me, but please don’t hurt Gabrielle.” No guilt, no lingering affection for our past relationship.

Facing me, who had destroyed his feelings, I was the villain in his eyes. His Gabrielle hid behind him like an injured little bunny, adorable and pitiful. For some reason, watching them, I burst into laughter.

I remembered the night when the moon was full, he stood on the rooftop, facing the cool breeze of early autumn, and confessed to me. I recalled the minty fragrance when he lowered his head to kiss me. Time did not stand still for us, and his heart had already left me.

I thought it was time to let go of myself. I didn’t have the strength to harm his Gabrielle, even though I knew all of this was part of the plan. I was exhausted from playing along.

I said, “Zachary, let’s just go ahead with the wedding, after all, the invitations have been sent out.” At that moment, he hesitated, gripping Gabrielle’s hand tightly, unwilling to agree to my words.

A long silence made my heart sink deeper. Finally, he nodded. The wedding took place as scheduled. Perhaps his parents had worked on him, but he appeared at the wedding venue on time.

On that day, Morgan, like a spy, gestured an OK sign to me from the audience. So, during that wedding, I revealed every detail of Zachary and Gabrielle’s affair through a video on the screen.

Due to the business relationships of both families, many industry bigwigs attended the wedding. As per my request, Morgan invited several financial news reporters. The video caused a sensation, and within half an hour, the news became a hot topic.

Zachary on stage glared at me angrily, “What’s the benefit for you in doing this?”

I was extremely happy and said with a smile, “Does making me happy count as a benefit?” After saying this, the smile vanished from my face.

I stared at him coldly, thinking that this was the last bit of energy I wasted on him. From now on, he was dead to me, and I would never bother myself with him again.

This absurd wedding became a scandal. The impact on a company’s turnover might not show up immediately, but for a stock that fluctuated constantly, it had a significant effect. That afternoon, Zachary’s family stock plummeted, and by the evening closing, it had lost half of its value.

Gabrielle was quite capable. Even before entering Zachary’s family, she had helped them lose billions. Those billions were the price Zachary should pay. He shouldn’t have bullied me over and over again.

13

Perhaps it was those billions that made Gabrielle’s marriage to Zachary exceptionally difficult. Gabrielle suffered a lot in front of Zachary’s parents, especially from his mother, who publicly announced that Zachary’s family would not accept her. Despite all these difficulties, Zachary still married Gabrielle.

I once heard from Morgan that Gabrielle and Zachary got married out of necessity, but unfortunately, their child was miscarried. Due to this, Gabrielle was left with lingering health issues, and even after many years, she couldn’t conceive again.

Morgan said, “I heard she has been in tears all these years. The mother-in-law has given her a hard time, and Zachary, tired of seeing her cry every day, probably got fed up. Be careful; I heard Zachary mentioned divorce, and she might come to you.”

True to her words, Gabrielle showed up not long after. Unlike the last time, she didn’t come with confidence. She didn’t dress up, and her face was bare, revealing her worn-out appearance.

As soon as she approached me, tears streamed down her face. She said, “Autumn, you have everything and lack nothing. With your conditions, why do you have to compete with me for him?”

I couldn’t help but find her words both amusing and exasperating. I replied, “Just because you like to eat crap, does it mean everyone else does too?”

Perhaps my words were too harsh; her face turned bright red, and she remained silent for a while. Feeling a bit guilty, I sighed and said, “Gabrielle, you’re still so young. Why waste your energy on a scoundrel?”

Suddenly, she became hysterical, tears gushing out. She covered her face, choked up, and said, “But I love him. He’s all I have. When he chose me over you back then, why did he change his mind in just three short years?”

I couldn’t answer her, but since parting ways with Zachary, I had realized that people’s hearts change easily. One should never place their future entirely in someone else’s hands.

I tried to advise her, “Leaving him now might not be a bad idea.”

Gabrielle’s emotions were getting out of control, and in a neurotic manner, she suddenly stopped crying. “No! I put in so much effort to marry into the Zachary family. Why should I leave just because he tells me to?”

Knowing that I couldn’t persuade her, I asked my secretary to escort her out. She didn’t resist, but before leaving, she turned back to me and said, “Autumn, I’ve never envied you. Your confidence today is just because you’ve been lucky.”

I didn’t deny her words, but I always felt that, regardless of one’s circumstances, one must first respect oneself. I won’t claim to be faultless, but I would never get too close to a man with a girlfriend, let alone engage in an affair with a man who is about to get married. I am grateful for the good family that fate has given me, but Gabrielle, you shouldn’t give up your principles just because you were born into a lower social class.

14

After that, Zachary tried to contact me several times, but I turned him down each time. My secretary would wince every time she hung up the phone. She asked me why I wouldn’t take Zachary’s business, especially when he was offering so much money.

I chuckled and said, “Because I don’t need that particular business. It’s not like I’m lacking anything.”

In truth, I avoided the trouble. Even though he offered a high price for custom-made clothes, I didn’t want to take his orders. I knew very well that making clothes was just a cover for him.

On Mid-Autumn Festival, my parents and I went out for dinner. On the way home, I received another call from Zachary. The call somewhat dampened my mood, and I didn’t mince words, saying, “Zachary, if you call my private number again, I’ll have to permanently block you.”

He fell silent for a moment before saying, “Autumn, I just want to see you.”

I replied with no kindness, “But I don’t want to see you.”

He spoke before I could hang up, his voice heavy as if he was making a desperate gamble. “Autumn, one last time. I promise not to bother you again if you just agree to meet me.”

His words made me laugh, “Who do you think you are?”

After saying that, I ended the call.

That night, when I returned home, Zachary was waiting at the entrance of my residential area. In more than three years, he hadn’t changed much. Yet, when he stood in front of his car, looking at me with those affectionate eyes, I felt nothing but disgust. There were no extra emotions left.

He said, “Autumn, I got divorced from her.”

I remained silent. The moon in the sky was big and round, casting a bright light on his face. I could see a sense of relief and an air of inevitability in his expression.

He was in a hurry to see me just to tell me that he was a free man now. He thought I was still waiting for him.

Looking at him, I suddenly laughed. I glanced at the couples happily playing under the streetlights in the distance and said without any emotion, “Zachary, you might not know, but the night after you and Gabrielle left the wedding, I stayed on the rooftop for a long time.”

“At that moment, I couldn’t understand why you would like Gabrielle. It wasn’t until the sun was about to rise on the horizon that I suddenly figured it out — I didn’t need to torment myself with your mistakes. I shouldn’t waste too much energy on you during the best years of my life. From that moment on, I found that I no longer loved you.”

Because I no longer loved him, I had no burden calculating against him during the wedding. I continued, “When I left this city years ago, I already stopped caring about what was happening to you. Whether you divorced Gabrielle or not, it has nothing to do with me.”

Zachary stared at me blankly, shook his head suddenly, and said, “I don’t believe what you’re saying. I know you hate me, that’s why you’re saying this.”

I casually smiled, looking indifferent. He seemed to lose control and his voice trembled. “Autumn, I don’t believe your words. I don’t believe you have no feelings for me anymore.”

I stopped smiling, looked at him coldly. His voice suddenly lowered, almost with a pleading tone, “Autumn, I’m sorry…”

I remained silent because this apology came too late. I no longer needed it. The bright moon in the sky was as radiant as when he confessed to me all those years ago, but both he and I knew we could never go back to how things used to be.

15

I blocked all of Zachary’s contact information. Since then, he hadn’t disturbed me for a long time. Until my birthday, he somehow found someone else’s phone number and called me. Because it was an unfamiliar number, I couldn’t intercept it.

Perhaps due to alcohol, his voice had a hint of nasal tone. “Autumn, we’ve known each other for thirty years. Can’t we be friends now?”

I didn’t want to get entangled with him anymore and spoke in a cold tone, “I can’t find a reason to be friends with you.”

I didn’t want to talk to him, moved the phone away from my ear, and then pressed the hang-up button. Before the call ended, I heard him cry on the other end, chokingly saying, “Autumn, I regret it…”

That night, a same-city delivery sent a package to me. I was sitting on the balcony with Morgan, listening to music, drinking red wine, feeling a bit tipsy. Morgan excitedly brought over the unopened package.

She said, “I don’t know which fool secretly bought you a gift, confessing their love to you.”

In a few moments, she opened the package, revealing a black velvet box inside. Opening the box, there was a diamond-studded ring lying inside.

At first glance, I recognized it. It was the ring Zachary and I had custom-made in a jewelry store half a year before our wedding. The design was unique, and I had liked it a lot at the time, but unfortunately, it hadn’t been put to use.

The wedding that had never started ended. Unexpectedly, after all these years, it was back in my hands.

I didn’t know why Zachary sent it to me. Was he trying to tell me that he had been keeping our wedding ring all along? But what significance did it have now?

Morgan’s eyes sparkled as she sighed, “Such a beautiful ring.”

I smiled indifferently and said, “If you like it, take it.”